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44-538: A regional park can be a special park district covering a region crossing several jurisdiction boundaries, or a park system of a single jurisdiction, such as a province, county, or city. There are 101 regional parks in Saskatchewan. All parks are operated by volunteer boards. Regional parks in Italy are administered by each region in Italy , a government unit like a U.S. state. Distinguished from National Parks in

88-626: A dark bread made with rye, and honey. Notable dishes include Carbonnade , similar to the Belgian dish of the same name consisting of salt-cured beef cooked with onions and red wine served with polenta; breaded veal cutlets called costolette ; teuteuns , salt-cured cow's udder that is cooked and sliced; and steak à la valdôtaine , a steak with croûtons , ham and melted cheese. Aosta Valley has many small and picturesque villages, three of them have been selected by I Borghi più belli d'Italia (English: The most beautiful Villages of Italy ),

132-578: A low summer average but mild winters, sometimes above −3 °C (27 °F), especially near lakes, or a more severe cold continental climate, with a very low winter average. Temperature averages in Plateau Rosa , at 3,400 m (11,200 ft) high, are −11.6 °C (11.1 °F) in January and 1.4 °C (34.5 °F) in July. It is the coldest place in Italy where the climate is verifiable. In

176-426: Is Mont Blanc (4,810 m or 15,780 ft). This makes it the highest region in Italy, according to the list of Italian regions by highest point . The valleys, usually above 1,600 m (5,200 ft), annually have a cold continental climate ( Dfc ). In this climate, the snow season is very long, as long as 8 or 9 months at the highest points. During the summer, mist occurs almost every day. These areas are

220-518: Is also officially recognized. Italian is spoken as a mother tongue by 77.29% of the population, Valdôtain by 17.91%, and French by 1.25%. In 2009, reportedly 50.53% of the population could speak all three languages. The Aosta Valley is an Alpine valley which, with its tributary valleys, includes the Italian slopes of Mont Blanc , Monte Rosa , Gran Paradiso and the Matterhorn ; its highest peak

264-420: Is bordered by Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes , France , to the west; by Valais , Switzerland , to the north; and by Piedmont , Italy, to the south and east. The regional capital is Aosta . Covering an area of 3,263 km (1,260 sq mi) and with a population of about 128,000, it is the smallest, least populous, and least densely populated region of Italy. The province of Aosta having been dissolved in 1945,

308-571: Is conducted evenly in French and Italian, so that anyone who has gone to school in the Aosta Valley can speak both languages to at least a medium-high level. Legal decree No.365 of 11 November 1946 (art.2) states that it is mandatory to know both Italian and French to teach in Aosta Valley's schools. According to Aosta Valley's autonomous status (art.39), the same quantity of hours of French and Italian teaching must be held. The decree No.861 of

352-626: Is divided into a number of provinces . During the Kingdom of Italy , regions were mere statistical districts of the central state. Under the Republic, they were granted a measure of political autonomy by the 1948 Italian Constitution . The original draft list comprised the Salento region (which was eventually included in Apulia ); Friuli and Venezia Giulia were separate regions, and Basilicata

396-415: Is not divided into provinces. Nevertheless, it is still divided into 74 comunes namely: The population density of Aosta Valley is by far the lowest of the Italian regions. In 2008, 38.9 inhabitants per km were registered in the region, whereas the average national figure was 198.8, though the region has extensive uninhabitable areas of mountain and glacier, with a substantial part of the population living in

440-694: Is quite modest: they keep just 20% of all levied taxes, mostly used to finance the region-based healthcare system . Article 116 of the Italian Constitution grants home rule to five regions, namely the Aosta Valley , Friuli-Venezia Giulia , Sardinia , Sicily , and Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol , allowing them some legislative, administrative and financial power to a varying extent, depending on their specific statute. These regions became autonomous in order to take into account cultural differences and protect linguistic minorities. Moreover,

484-403: Is still elected on a regional basis, but the number of senators was reduced from 315 to 200, who are now elected by all citizens aged 18 or older, just like deputies (themselves being reduced from 630 to 400). Italians residing abroad now elect 4 senators (and 8 deputies). The remaining 196 senators are assigned to each region proportionally according to their population. The amended Article 57 of

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528-552: Is the highest growth among the Italian regions. With a negative natural population growth, this is due exclusively to positive net migration. Between 2001 and 2011, the population of Aosta Valley grew by a further 7.07%. As of 2006 , the Italian National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT) estimated that 4,976 foreign-born immigrants live in Aosta Valley, equal to 4.0% of the total regional population. The Valdôtain population and their language dialects have been

572-912: The Constitution of Italy originally established that the Senate of the Republic was to be elected on a regional basis by Italian citizens aged 25 or older (unlike the Chamber of the Deputies , which was elected on a national basis and by all Italian citizens aged 18 or older). No region could have less than 7 senators, except for the two smallest regions: Aosta Valley (1 senator) and Molise (2 senators). From 2006 to 2020, 6 out of 315 senators (and 12 out of 630 deputies) were elected by Italians residing abroad . After two constitutional amendments were passed respectively in 2020 (by constitutional referendum ) and 2021, however, there have been changes. The Senate

616-577: The Department of Conservation or territorial authorities . In the United States, a regional park is sometimes referred to as a 'Metropolitan Park (Metropark)' or as an open space reserve . The terms region and metropolitan can have different meanings in U.S. local government agencies. Regional parks can be administered by a regional park board, a state , county or other units of local government . A special authority can be set up, under

660-635: The Franconian line and built himself a commanding fortification at Bard . Saint Anselm of Canterbury was born in Aosta in 1033 or 1034. The region was divided among strongly fortified castles, and in 1191, Thomas I of Savoy found it necessary to grant to the communes a Charte des franchises ("Charter of Liberties") which preserved autonomy—rights that were fiercely defended until 1770, when they were revoked to tie Aosta more closely to Piedmont , but which were again demanded during post-Napoleonic times. In

704-596: The San Francisco Bay Area , protecting habitat and offering recreation. In Scotland , regional parks are defined to co-ordinate the management of areas of attractive countryside that are of importance for recreation due to their proximity to population centres. The parks have been defined and are managed by local authorities . As of 2018, Scotland had three regional parks: Northern Ireland Lagan Valley Regional Park Regions of Italy The regions of Italy ( Italian : regioni d'Italia ) are

748-670: The Secondary education final exam , similar to the first test (in Italian). The regional language , known as patoué valdotèn or simply patoué ( patois valdôtain in French), is a dialectal variety of Franco-Provençal . It is spoken as a native and second language by 68,000 residents, or about 58% of the population according to a sociolinguistic survey carried out by the Fondation Émile Chanoux in 2001. The survey found that

792-760: The Three Rivers Park District in Minnesota . In Ohio, under Ohio Revised Code Chapter 1545, metroparks such as the Cleveland Metroparks Park District, Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks have their own Police Departments with sworn police officers . The Toledo Metroparks , and Dayton Five Rivers Metroparks are also in the state. The East Bay Regional Park District and Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District have extensive parklands in

836-469: The first-level NUTS of the European Union . Every region has a statute that serves as a regional constitution, determining the form of government and the fundamental principles of the organization and the functioning of the region, as prescribed by the Constitution of Italy ( Article 123 ). Although all the regions except Tuscany define themselves in various ways as an "autonomous Region" in

880-484: The giunta , and nominates or dismisses its members, called assessori . If the directly elected president resigns, new elections are called immediately. In the Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol region, the regional council is made up of the joint session of the two provincial councils of Trentino and of South Tyrol. The regional president is one of the two provincial commissioners. Article 57 of

924-417: The Aosta Valley region was the first region of Italy to abolish provincial subdivisions, followed by Friuli-Venezia Giulia in 2017 (where they were reestablished later). Provincial administrative functions are provided by the regional government. The region is divided into 74 comuni (French: communes ). The official languages are Italian and French ; Valdôtain , a dialect of Franco-Provençal ,

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968-484: The Constitution provides that no region can have fewer than 3 senators representing it, barring Aosta Valley and Molise, which retained 1 and 2 senators respectively. Aosta Valley The Aosta Valley ( French : Vallée d'Aoste [vale dɔst] ; Italian : Valle d'Aosta [ˈvalle daˈɔsta] ; Arpitan : Val d'Aoûta ) is a mountainous autonomous region in northwestern Italy . It

1012-469: The Italian language was native to 77.29% of respondents, Franco-Provençal to 17.91%, and French to 1.25%, though the active use of these languages by the population shows French at 75.41% and Franco-Provençal at 55.77%. The population of Gressoney-Saint-Jean , Gressoney-La-Trinité and Issime , in the Lys Valley , speak two dialects of Walser German , Titsch and Töitschu respectively. According to

1056-562: The President of the Republic of 31 October 1975 (art.5) states that it is mandatory to pass a French exam to teach in Aosta Valley for Italian native speakers, as well an Italian exam for French native speakers. Italian law No.196 of 16 May 1978 states the adaptation rules of national educational programmes into French for Aosta Valley, and states as well that all members of the examination boards must be fluent both in Italian and French. Aosta Valley students must pass an extra test in French at

1100-744: The Republic of Ireland , which are owned and run centrally by the state's National Parks and Wildlife Service , Ireland's regional parks are managed and operated by individual local authorities in Ireland . Examples include Ballincollig Regional Park (managed by Cork City Council ), Millennium Regional Park ( Fingal County Council ), and Malahide Demesne Regional Park (also Fingal County Council). A law to establish regional parks in Lithuania took effect in 1992. As of 2022, there were 30 such regional parks ( regioniniai parkai ). In New Zealand , regional parks are administered by regional councils rather than

1144-410: The central valley. Negative natural population growth since 1976 has been more than offset by immigration. The region has one of Italy's lowest birth rates , with a rising average age. This, too, is partly compensated by immigration, since most immigrants arriving in the region are younger people working in the tourist industry. Between 1991 and 2001, the population of Aosta Valley grew by 3.1%, which

1188-667: The centre-right government led by Silvio Berlusconi proposed a new reform that would have greatly increased the power of regions. The proposals, which had been particularly associated with Lega Nord , and seen by some as leading the way to a federal state, were rejected in the 2006 Italian constitutional referendum by 61.7% "no" to 38.3% "yes". The results varied considerably among the regions, ranging from 55.3% in favour in Veneto to 82% against in Calabria . Number of regions governed by each coalition since 1995: Macroregions are

1232-606: The first article of their Statutes, fifteen regions have ordinary statutes and five have special statutes, granting them extended autonomy. These regions, whose statutes are approved by their regional councils, were created in 1970, even though the Italian Constitution dates back to 1948. Since the constitutional reform of 2001 they have had residual legislative powers: the regions have exclusive legislative power with respect to any matters not expressly reserved to state law ( Article 117 ). Yet their financial autonomy

1276-474: The first-level administrative divisions of the Italian Republic , constituting its second NUTS administrative level. There are twenty regions, five of which are autonomous regions with special status . Under the Constitution of Italy , each region is an autonomous entity with defined powers. With the exception of the Aosta Valley (since 1945) and Friuli-Venezia Giulia (2018–2020), each region

1320-533: The government wanted to prevent them from potentially seceding or being taken away from Italy after the defeat in World War II . Each region has an elected parliament, called Consiglio Regionale (regional council), or Assemblea Regionale (regional assembly) in Sicily, and a government called Giunta Regionale (regional committee), headed by a governor called Presidente della Giunta Regionale (president of

1364-677: The joint jurisdiction of two or more government bodies or as an independent park district to administer parks. Individual parks may or may not cross governmental boundaries. The park district holds the authority, similar to fire protection districts, to manage and raise taxes to cover park acquisition and management costs. Examples of large regional park systems are the Cleveland Metroparks in Northeast Ohio, Huron-Clinton Metroparks in Southeast Michigan ; and

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1408-461: The local Salassi around 25 BC and founded Augusta Prætoria Salassorum (modern-day Aosta) to secure the strategic mountain passes, and they went on to build bridges and roads through the mountains. Thus, the name Valle d'Aosta literally means "Valley of Augustus". In 1031–1032, Humbert I of Savoy , the founder of the House of Savoy , received the title Count of Aosta from Emperor Conrad II of

1452-637: The mid-13th century, Emperor Frederick II made the County of Aosta a duchy (see Duke of Aosta ), and its arms charged with a lion rampant were carried in the Savoy arms until the reunification of Italy in 1870. The region remained part of Savoy lands, with the exceptions of French occupations from 1539 to 1563, later in 1691, and then between 1704 and 1706. It was also ruled by the First French Empire between 1800 and 1814. During French rule, it

1496-409: The past, above 3,500 m (11,500 ft), all months had an average temperature below freezing, with a perpetual frost climate (EF). In recent years, however, there has been a rise in temperatures. See, as an example, the data for Plateau Rosa. Early inhabitants of the Aosta Valley were Celts and Ligures , whose language heritage remains in some local placenames. Rome conquered the region from

1540-400: The regional committee) or Presidente della Regione (regional president). The latter is directly elected by the citizens of each region, with the exceptions of Aosta Valley and Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol regions where the president is chosen by the regional council. Under the 1995 electoral law, the winning coalition receives an absolute majority of seats on the council. The president chairs

1584-492: The regions where it was historically rooted (the red belt of Emilia-Romagna , Tuscany , Umbria and the Marches ). Regions acquired a significant level of autonomy following a constitutional reform in 2001 (brought about by a centre-left government and confirmed by popular referendum), which granted them residual policy competence. A further federalist reform was proposed by the regionalist party Lega Nord and in 2005,

1628-435: The subject of some sociological research. The Aosta Valley was the first government authority to adopt Modern French as the official language in 1536, three years before France itself. Since 1946, Italian and French are the region's official languages and are used for the regional government's acts and laws, though Italian is much more widely spoken in everyday life, and French is mostly spoken in cultural life. Education

1672-541: The survey, Walser German was spoken as a mother tongue by 207 people, or 17.78%, in these three villages. Nevertheless, it was known to 56.38% of the population. There are numerous medieval castles and fortified houses in the Aosta Valley, including Châtel-Argent , Saint-Pierre Castle , Fénis Castle , Issogne Castle , Bard Fort , Ussel Castle , Sarre Castle , Cly Castle , Verrès Castle , and Châtelard Castle . Savoy Castle in Gressoney-Saint-Jean

1716-596: The valley has been dominated by autonomist regional parties such as the Valdostan Union , which represents the interests of the French-speaking population. The latest regional election was held in September 2020. On 2 March 2023, Renzo Testolin was elected regional president, supported by a coalition of autonomist and progressive lists. The Aosta Valley, being the smallest region of Italy by area,

1760-535: The valley. It is found in dishes such as the soup à la vâpeuleunèntse ( Valpelline Soup). Other cheeses made in the region are Tomme de Gressoney and Seras. Fromadzo ( Valdôtain for cheese ) has been produced locally since the 15th century and also has PDO status. Regional specialities, besides Fontina, are Motzetta (dried chamois meat), Vallée d'Aoste Lard d'Arnad (a cured and brined fatback product with PDO designation), Vallée d'Aoste Jambon de Bosses (a kind of ham , likewise with PDO designation),

1804-433: The wettest in the western Alps. Temperatures in January are low, between −7 and −3 °C (19 and 27 °F), and in July are between 20 and 35 °C (68 and 95 °F). Areas between 2,000 and 3,500 m (6,600 and 11,500 ft) usually have a tundra climate ( ET ), where every month has an average temperature below 10 °C (50 °F). This climate may be either a kind of more severe cold oceanic climate, with

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1848-504: Was conceived in the 19th century and completed in 1904. Since 1990, it has also been home to the Savoy Castle Alpine Botanical Garden . The cuisine of Aosta Valley is characterized by simplicity and revolves around "robust" ingredients such as potatoes, polenta ; cheese and meat; and rye bread . Many of the dishes involve Fontina , a cheese with PDO status, made from cow's milk that originates from

1892-420: Was named Lucania . Abruzzo and Molise were identified as separate regions in the first draft, but were later merged into Abruzzi e Molise in the final constitution of 1948, before being separated in 1963. Implementation of regional autonomy was postponed until the first Regional elections of 1970. The ruling Christian Democracy party did not want the opposition Italian Communist Party to gain power in

1936-458: Was part of Aoste arrondissement in Doire department. As part of the Kingdom of Sardinia , it joined the new Kingdom of Italy in 1861. French forces briefly controlled the area at the end of World War II , but withdrew under British and American pressure. The region gained special autonomous status after the end of World War II; the province of Aosta ceased to exist in 1945. For decades,

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